Grand Canyon Camping

[Marty W]

I decided to ride the bike over to the Grand Canyon and do a little hiking, next thing I know I am backpacking across the Canyon from the South rim to just below the North rim. It turned out to be forty miles and 25,000 ft elevation change in four days with a fifty pound pack. Damn I found out I aint in the shape that I was in while I was in the Army. It is also pretty cold in the Canyon this time of year as well!





Here is a shot as I was starting down into the canyon

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking002.jpg



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking018.jpg



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking020.jpg



Here is a shot of my hiking buddy! Actually he wasn't all that friendly!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking118.jpg



Him and his mate

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking134.jpg



I'm not sure but it didn't make it.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking141.jpg



A view in the Bright Angel Canyon

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking155.jpg



Ribbon Falls , These were absolutley amazing!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking167.jpg



A rainbow that ends on my shoulder aint that good luck?

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking172.jpg



Another rainbow shot.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking186.jpg



A shot from behind the falls.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking187.jpg



Home sweet camp, the temps dropped into the teens .

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking218.jpg



a couple more shots in Bright Angel Canyon.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking233.jpg



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking244.jpg



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking246.jpg



one of the locals

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking294.jpg



Standing over the Colorado river

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking353.jpg



The Colorado River

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking362.jpg



a view of the pedestrian bridge across the river

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking370.jpg



Another hiker taking in the view.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking409.jpg



A stern warning.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking412.jpg



A few clouds blowing over.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking413.jpg



Canyon views

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking416.jpg



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking420.jpg



A couple shots on the frozen waterfalls, it was pretty chilly!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking426.jpg





True happiness even though my feet were killing me!



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking427.jpg



I think that I had blisters on my blisters. Those trail ate my old hiking boots and I will be getting some better ones for sure!!



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking431.jpg

I was one of the top ten to sign in at the North Rim!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/martywilson/Grand%20Canyon%20Backpacking/GrandCanyonBackpacking232.jpg

[CheesyRider]

You Rock

[RCLafnjack]

Beautiful photos...

[Whosoever]

That was a great way to start the new year! Thanks for sharing.:D

[ImRubicon]

Great picture other than your toes LOL
What did you do for water when away from river ?

[Marty W]

Great picture other than your toes LOL
What did you do for water when away from river ?


Thanks Guys, there was some Potable water at a couple of the campsites then as I headed up for the North rim I just used my MSR filter to get water out of the creek I boiled it as well on my Crux Optimus camp stove to put in my Mountain House freeze dried food.

[lytle1gw]

Nice trip, great to be healthy enough to do it.P^

[quadancer]

I'd have starved, but I'd have gone with if I coulda! Awesome trip!

[Papa Ritch]

Thank You and all who post pictures like your. I am able to see so much more then I could ever see on my own. Ritch:tent4:

[Ironheadziggy76]

Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing! P^

[bigTom]

Wow! Great stuff...

I'm supposed to Mirror that hike in March. I'm not so sure I'm good for the 'up' part. Gravity seems to have gotten stronger in the last couple of decades....

Thanks, Marty!

[IndyDon]

Great Pictures. Thanks for sharing. I don't think I would have made it out.

[Marty W]

The "up" part was actually a lot easier than the down part. On the way down my legs and feet really took a beating with all that weight.
On the way up just don't get in the habit of staring at your toes, keep your head up and look at your surroundings and the views.

[quadancer]

Is there any truth to the murders and stuff that happened out there? My wife was yakkin' about that, and how you needed to be locked and loaded to hike there. Not that I worry about someone attacking me, just curious.

[Dusty Boots]

Ya ..... it was all the descents that blew my knees and forced me (actually it was my knee specialist/surgeon) to give up backpacking .... at least out in the west (http://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/90000/90497.jpg).
I'm starting to think seriously about doing 'lighter hikes' here in the east, where there isn't so much elevation gain involved. Of course though, in the east here, they don't know what switchbacks are, so I'll just have to pick my trips with a very discerning eye on elevation gain/loss.
When I went down n out (http://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/124000/124931.jpg) into the GC from the North Rim, it was a day hike from the Bar 10 Ranch area in the AZ 'Strip' area, south east of St. George, UT.


http://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/126000/126750.jpg

I realize that this time of year forces one to carry a heavier pack, but 50lbs is getting up there, Marty. I had my pack weight down to 28lbs for a 5 day trip, including food/2L of water.
One thing that helped me realize a drop in pack weight was a digital scale and the use of this free, very handy spreadsheet program (http://www.backpacking.net/featured3.html)! P^

[Marty W]

Is there any truth to the murders and stuff that happened out there? My wife was yakkin' about that, and how you needed to be locked and loaded to hike there. Not that I worry about someone attacking me, just curious.

I had not heard anything about murders, I travel and camp all over the states and have never had a problem with violence. I rarley leave my property with a gun anymore.


Marty. I had my pack weight down to 28lbs for a 5 day trip, including food/2L of water.
One thing that helped me realize a drop in pack weight was a digital scale and the use of this free, very handy spreadsheet program (http://www.backpacking.net/featured3.html)! P^


THis was my first backpacking trip in along time so I think that I can whittle that weight down and the more food I ate the lighter the pack!:D